Tests a Therapy for Seizure-Like Episodes in Teens With No Medical Cause
Tests a 12-session behavioral therapy in young people aged 11 to 18 with non-epileptic seizures.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT): Sense of Control and Symptom Expectations as Targets of a Treatment for PNES
Key facts
- Where
- Birmingham, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 11 and 18 years old?
Source: NCT05096273, who can take part
Where in United States
- Sparks Center Office of Psychiatric ResearchBirmingham, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Trial code
- NCT05096273
- Record updated
- 26 August 2026
- Original description
The purpose of this study is to assess sense of control and catastrophic symptom expectations as targets for Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT- an intervention focused on changing behaviors and thoughts) for treatment of pediatric psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES, episodes resembling epileptic seizures but with no medical explanation). 11-18-year-olds diagnosed with PNES will engage in twelve sessions of ReACT. Sense of control over actions will be measured by the magic and turbulence task, a well-validated measure of sense of control. Participants will complete the cold pressor test (CPT) in which participants hold their hand in cool water for as long as possible up to 3 minutes. Catastrophic symptom expectations in response to the CPT will be measured by Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children (PCS-C) pain tolerance (time with hand in water) and cortisol response. Target assessments will occur 7 days before treatment, 7 days after 8th treatment session and 7 days after 12th treatment session. Participants will also complete long term follow-up visits via HIPAA-compliant Zoom at 6 months and 12 months after the 12th treatment session where participants will complete questionnaires. PNES frequency will be measured from 30 days before to 12 months after treatment.Read full original descriptionShow less
Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT): Sense of Control and Catastrophic Symptom Expectations as Targets of a Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Pediatric Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES)
The purpose of this study is to assess sense of control and catastrophic symptom expectations as targets for Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT- an intervention focused on changing behaviors and thoughts) for treatment of pediatric psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES, episodes resembling epileptic seizures but with no medical explanation). 11-18-year-olds diagnosed with PNES will engage in twelve sessions of ReACT. Sense of control over actions will be measured by the magic and turbulence task, a well-validated measure of sense of control. Participants will complete the cold pressor test (CPT) in which participants hold their hand in cool water for as long as possible up to 3 minutes. Catastrophic symptom expectations in response to the CPT will be measured by Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children (PCS-C) pain tolerance (time with hand in water) and cortisol response. Target assessments will occur 7 days before treatment, 7 days after 8th treatment session and 7 days after 12th treatment session. Participants will also complete long term follow-up visits via HIPAA-compliant Zoom at 6 months and 12 months after the 12th treatment session where participants will complete questionnaires. PNES frequency will be measured from 30 days before to 12 months after treatment.
Inclusion: 9-18 years old; Diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures by a medical doctor using video-EEG; Family member (parent if a minor) willing to participate and that the subject with PNES chooses.
Exclusion: Participation in other therapy; Comorbid Epilepsy; Other paroxysmal nonepileptic events (e.g. episodes related to hypoxic-ischemic phenomena, sleep disorders or migraine-associated disorders); Severe mental illness (delusions/hallucinations); Exclusion for CPT:; Blood pressure >130/80 mmHg for adolescents greater than or equal to 13 years old; Either systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95% based on sex and age for children less than 13 years old; Less than 4 PNES per month; Severe intellectual disability.